Description
Problem-based learning involves giving open-ended problems with no "right" answers to a small group (3-5) of students with the teacher acting as a facilitator.
Possible Benefits
develop critical thinking skills
increase motivation
improve collaboration skills
help student consolidate a wide range of concepts
apply knowledge rather than simply memorize
Possible Problems
Does not work well if students do not have appropriate background knowledge
Concrete Examples
Example 1 - Fermi Problems
These are the classic ill-structured PBL problems. Here are some samples
How many much pizza does the UOIT university population east in a year? Give you answers in square metres.
How much food does the city of Toronto Waste in one year?
How much water (in liters) does Canada use in a one month?
How far does the elevator in the CN Tower travel in a years (in Km)?
Example 2 - Case Studies
Case studies are rich problems that don't have right or wrong answers. They can be used in a number of disciplines such as medicine, law, education, and business. Here are a few examples:
Example 1 - Forest Ecosystem This Gizmo allows student to explore a number of factors than can influence the forest ecosystems - While it seem for of an experiential WBLT, a teacher can turn it into a PBL learning experience by asking open ended questions like:
Which factor has the biggest impact on the long term survival of the forest ecosystem in this Gizmo?
What new elements could you introduce that would have a significant impact on the forest ecosystem?
What is the impact of hunting on this ecosystem? Please explain your answer.
Example 2 - Energy Skate Park
This WBLT allows a students to examine the relationship among Kinetic, Potential, and Thermal Energy.
Again, the key to invoking PBL learning is to ask the right type of questions like:
How are Kinetic, Potential, and Thermal energy related to each other?
What factors influence how long a skateboarder can continue in the real world and why? Pick a set of factors that would result in the longest skateboard run?
Problem Based Learning
Monitor: RobinDescription
Problem-based learning involves giving open-ended problems with no "right" answers to a small group (3-5) of students with the teacher acting as a facilitator.
Possible Benefits
Possible Problems
Concrete Examples
Example 1 - Fermi Problems
These are the classic ill-structured PBL problems. Here are some samples
Example 2 - Case Studies
Case studies are rich problems that don't have right or wrong answers. They can be used in a number of disciplines such as medicine, law, education, and business. Here are a few examples:
WBLT Examples
Example 1 - Forest Ecosystem
This Gizmo allows student to explore a number of factors than can influence the forest ecosystems - While it seem for of an experiential WBLT, a teacher can turn it into a PBL learning experience by asking open ended questions like:
Example 2 - Energy Skate Park
This WBLT allows a students to examine the relationship among Kinetic, Potential, and Thermal Energy.
Again, the key to invoking PBL learning is to ask the right type of questions like:
References
Behaviorism described at Learning-Theories.Com